Startup Confidential

Hosted by Dr. James F. Richardson

Business ManagementExplicit

Website RSS feed LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

Episodes

175

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Who is it For? Founders of CPG start-ups. What is It? Zero B.S. perspective on running your start-up well, understanding the biases of industry stakeholders and getting the industry to work for you, not the other way around. When? Every month. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com If you want to take my founder's Quiz to see if you are ready for exponential growth, please visit : www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com/founder_resources and sign up for my e-mail list to download it. Transcripts and an entire episode library are on my podcast site. https://www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com/podcast

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 1, 20264 min

Episode 175 - What Founders Misunderstand About the S-Curve and Why It Matters

Send us Fan Mail Send us Fan Mail The Skate Ramp metaphor in my book is really the front half of the S-curve, or lifecycle of any business or brand. But this curve is not fixed. It is always in formation. And founders DO have the power to raise the S-curve's height and affect its slope. This requires analytics, monitoring, and risk-taking, where many founders become complacent. #cpg #strategy #entrepreneurship My book? Ramping Your Brand: How to Ride the Killer CPG Growth Curve . www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com/services Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

September 15, 2026Episode 1745 min

Episode 174 - How To Use Your Founder Mouth in a High Growth Company

Send us Fan Mail The single biggest problem I sniff out in otherwise very successful, high-growth companies is under-communication. It is very easy for overwhelmed founders to forget that their most important role is to provide direction and assured vision. Listen as I explain how your culture will devolve if you do not do this. It may sound familiar. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

September 1, 2026Episode 1736 min

Episode 173 - OMG! Stop Blindly Saying 'Yes' To Buyer SKU Requests

Send us Fan Mail CPG brands that start in retail easily get sucked into fulfilling requests for exclusive UPCs. Negotiating your way out of these situations, including walking away, is critical to focused strategic growth. Listen in as I kick your sales team in the proverbial butt. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

August 15, 2026Episode 1725 min

Episode 172 – Stop Recruiting for Executive Presence!

Send us Fan Mail If you’re running a high-growth business, chances are you’ll need to reach out to an executive recruiter at some point. When you do, make sure you watch for this dangerous filter of “executive presence.” Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

August 1, 2026Episode 1717 min

Episode 171 - Every Founder’s Secret To Motivating Employees

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I walk founders through a key difference in perspective that founders and employees have, a difference that never, ever goes away. It does not doom any high-growth business, but you need to accept it to succeed as a leader. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

July 15, 2026Episode 1709 min

Episode 170 - Please Stop Copying Competitors’ Moves! Here’s Why.

Send us Fan Mail Most high-growth consumer brands need to re-position as they scale. The niche positioning that got you into the eight figures will drive you into a ditch. In this episode, I share four advanced tips I once kept behind an online training paywall. Don’t miss this content. In fact, copy the transcript off your screen. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

July 1, 2026Episode 1697 min

Episode 169 - Measuring Marketing Effectiveness The Right Way

Send us Fan Mail Don’t confuse anything I’m about to talk about with Marketing Mix Analytics, an old BigCo statistical machine designed to distinguish which of 15 marketing buckets had the most influence on sales growth in the past year. Just mentioning the topic makes me want to rage at the naivete with which people purchase its promises. Separate video required. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

June 15, 2026Episode 1682 min

Episode 168 - Why Startups Are like Flowers In the Desert...

Send us Fan Mail A humorous exploration of my favorite analogy for the experience of growing a consumer brand, whether or not you make it onto the Skate Ramp. It's harsh out there. Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

June 1, 2026Episode 1673 min

Episode167 - Forget the ‘A’ Players; How to Build a Better Team

Send us Fan Mail Consider the unconventional org move as a scrappy founder. This episode briefly explains the mistake many high-growth founders make once they can hire a recruiting firm. Private equity has twisted much of the hiring ecosystem to suit itself, not you. Have a listen and LMK if you agree in the comments! Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com

May 15, 2026Episode 16614 min

Episode 166 - Filter Advice Like a Boss - Interview w/Michelle Razavi Pt. 2

Send us Fan Mail This episode is part 2 of my interview with Michelle Razavi of Elavi protein brownies, where we delve deeper into the psychology of consumers who love her products AND the psychology of highly successful founders. The most important point she makes is the power of effective storytelling about your business to all manner of stakeholders, including the end consumer. Check out Michelle's brand - www.elavi.co Your Host: Dr. James F. Richardson of Premium Growth Solutions, LLC www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com Please send feedback on this or other episodes to: admin@premiumgrowthsolutions.com